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Chapter 7
TITANIUM MELTING, ALLOYING, MILL PROCESSING, AND HEAT TREATING
The conversion of raw titanium metal sponge to a consolidated f o rm
useful for structural purposes involves several processing steps. The
slam of these steps incorporates much metallurgical knowledge, perhaps
even more than that required to make sponge. Although only a f ew U . S. .
companies are involved in producing sponge, more than a score of
companies are sponge melters and mill product fabricators. This chapter
present s brief reviews and comments on the technologies involved in
melts ng, alloying, mill processing, and heat treating .
Ingo Sac Melting
The principal product associated with the melting of titanium sponge
is ingot. The process of melting titanium also is used to make castings
and spherical powder and, more recently, to produce bulk metal from
lightweight forms of scrap (e.g., turnings and grindings).
Pre se nt Prac Lice
Titanium ingot is the precursor form for most titanium mill products
(the exceptions are the as-cast preforms and the preforms produced by
powder metallurgy techniques). The steps required to make ingot include:
1. Formulating the composition--designing the alloy chemistry and
determining the required portions and forms of alloy
constituents (sponge, scrap, alloy additions ~ .
2. Preparing charges and electrode--weighing unit charges ~ sponge,
scrap , alloy additions), pressing blocks f rom each unit charge ,
assembling blocks into elec bode shape (weld ), and allowing f or
and adding bulk scrap to electrodes if bulk scrap is a
c oust i tuent (weld ~ .
Positioning consumable electrodes in vacuum arc furnaces for
initial melting and locking up, evacuating, and backf illing
furnace with inert gas at partial pressure. (Evacuating and
backfilling is repeated as necessary to secure acceptable
contamination-free conditions).
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64
Performing first-melt operations--converting consumable
electrode to f irst-melt ingot .
Performing second-melt operation using first melt ingot as
consumable electrode f or second melt ing .
For tr~ple~elted ingots, repeating step 5 .
7.
Reducing power gradually toward conclusion of second- or
third-melt operations to minimize pipe--the hot topping
procedure.
Removing ingot from furnace mold and inspecting it for defects
and conditioning the surf aces as required .
A schematic diagram of the f eatures of the ingot melting procedure is
shown in Figure 9. The factors affecting ingot quality and, subsequently,
the quality of the ultimate mill product, as determined by ingot-preparation
steps, are listed in Table 7; Ti-6Al-4V alloy is used for illustrative
purposes.
All (1981) U.S. titanium sponge producers melt ingot and at least six
additional companies purchase sponge and scrap titanium for converting
these raw materials to ingot. These companies use similar equipment but
it may vary in detail so that each company's overall process may be
somewhat different from that of the others. Nevertheless, most companies
apparently melt ingots to the same rigorous specif ications because the
end products from different melters are markedly similar.
Most of the titanium ingots produced in the United States weigh about
9, 000 lbs and are approximately 30 inches in diameter. S ome smaller
(e.g., 6,000-lbs ingot 23 i nches in diameter) and larger (e.g.,
22, OOO-lbs ingot 39 inches in diameter ~ are made . The ingot s produced
are ei ther double~elted or triple~elted . Ingot melting is a
sophisticated, time-consuming operation, and it is quite possible that
this process is one of the bottlenecks in the production of titanium
products. The panel concluded that there appears to be insuf f icient
ingot melting capacity in terms of accommodating surges in demand (e . g.,
those experienced in 1979-1980~.
The Future of Titanium Melting
The consumable electrode, vacuum arc remelting (VAR) process has proven
to be an excellent method for consolidating titanium sponge, mixed with
scrap and alloying additions as appropriate, in sizes up to 39 inches in
diameter and up to 22,000 lbs. The solidification pattern in consumable
electrode ingots minimizes alloy segregation. Available basic technology
for producing titanium ingots appears adequate for the near future.
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I
4 it',
Store Compact
T' Alloy
Weigh
Initial
Melting ,'1 -'. :~,
)1 ~ , Titanium consumable
l ~
Water outlet ~
Compact assembly
press (Weld ~
Liquid-metal
pool
Sol Edified
metal
r
electrode
_ Arc _
iVater-cooled _
copper crucible ]
_
._Wa~er r -
inlet |
~Water ~-
Ingot outlet
conditioning
Water-cooled
copper crucible
_m - 3
<~ Stub
Weld
Second
Malting
Log
Am,
Ingot conditioning
Titanium consumable
electrode (ingot from
initial melting}
l - 6 Water inlet
Figure 9 Flow diagram for the production of double-melted titanium
ingots using consumable electrode methods. Triple-melted
ingots are made similarly.
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66
TABLE 7 Factors Af fecting Ti-6Al-4V Ingot Quality and Ultimate Product
Capabilities
Ca tegori es
Composition formulation
Principal elements (Al and V)
Int ers t i tial element s ~ principally O)
Impurity elements (e.g., Fe , Cu. Si)
Intentional ocher elements (e .g . Y2O
Raw materials selection
Sponge titanium
Alloying additions
A1-V master alloy
Other make-up (Al, TiO
Scrap
Raw materials preparation
Component weigh up
Constituent blending
Blend storage
Consumable electrode preparation
Charge consolidation (block press) ng)
Weld assembly of blocks and holding stub
Reme 1 t e lec bode ~ f ram ingot ~
Preconditioning and weld to stub
Ing at mel tiny
Furnace type employed
Number of times melted
Power input schedules
St eady-s Late aberrations
Hot topping anomalie s
Me It chamber pressure aberrations
Vo let lies
Air inleakage
Pin-hole water leaks and crucible
burn-through
Ingot s ize
Ingot conditioning and testing
Surf ace conditioning
Pipe identif ication and treatment
Metal characterization: chemical
met allographic
Possible Variants
Low side, mid-range, high side
Low side, mid-range, high side
Low cant ent, maximum c ant ent
Trace to large quantity
Purity (bulk, volatilesa, inclusion
Purity ~ bulk and inclusions
Purity
Compos it ion ~ known t o unknown)
Purity (bulk and inclusions)
Form (small to large piece sib
Ratio (O to 100 percent of charge)
Accuracy
Mixing compatibi lity ~ segregation b
size, shape, or density)
Contamination
Strength, contamination
Contami net i on
Orientation (heterogeneity)
Contamination
Consumable, non-consumables
Double melted, triple melted)
Unf used seams
Large and/or open pipe
Loss of arc (melt interrupt) ons)
Contamination
Contamination
Homogeneity and pipe control
Contamination (removal of)
Ingot yielde, possible f laws in
center of ingot
Composition anomalies
Structural anomalies
a High volatile content can result in melting difficulties
b Form influences utilization mode--incorporation in blended batches
or as weld-on attachments to electrode assembly.
c Possible elimination of high-density inclusions
d pa ssible elimination of low-density inclusions
e Yield low if pipe section cannot be used.
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Some evolutionary ingot melting developments that might improve the
titanium availability situation are described as follows:
1. Nonintegrated melters generally cannot readily melt the
. acid-leached sponge produced by the domestic sponge producers.
This i s due to the high volatiles content of the sponge and to
the lack of adequate furnace vacuum pumping capacity by the
nonintegrated melters. Demonstration is needed to show what
modif ications must be made to the pumping equipment of furnaces
currently suitable only for the melting of vacuum-distilled
sponge so that they can adequately melt acid-leached sponge.
2. There are currently in operation on a small scale, furnaces
(inert-electrode vacuum arc, electron beam, and at least one
plasma arc remelt) capable of converting various forms of scrap
titanium to more useful forms in skull-melting type operations.
Demonstration is needed of the modifications required to i mprove
the produc t ion rate s of such f urnaces .
3 . A need is fore seen f or ingots larger than can be produced in
currently available titanium vacuum arc melting furnaces. These
are for applications in the areas of ship and hull structures
and electric-generating utility plant equipment (e.g., surface
condenser tube sheets and generator retaining rings).
Demonstration is needed of modif ications to currently available
large (up to 60 inches in diameter) VAR furnaces (now set-up for
s teel melting ~ so that they can be suitable f or melting
titanium. Co nstruct ion of larger vacuum arc f urnaces
specifically for the melting of titanium ingots of up to 50
inches in diameter is an alternative path. Subsequently, the
production of ingots of 30, 000 to 40, 000 lbs needs to be
demonstrated . ~ The panel has been made aware that two of the
U . S . producers are installing new f urnaces capable of melting
40,000-lbs ingots.)
4. Re ctangular slabs for plate rolling currently are produced from
round ingots by press forging. Ingots having a rectangular
section would be preferable as precursor slab for plate
production. Demonstration of melting methods to produce
rectangular-section ingots is needed (e.g., the electroslag
remelting methods employed by the Soviet Union in producing a
square-section ingot, one of which was exhibited at the 1981
Paris Air Show).
5. Highly alloyed or otherwise difficult to melt ingots and their
mill products have experienced relatively small demand.
However, they have an important position in the application of
titanium; producers meet this small demand with various forms
and degrees of reluctance.
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Alloying
Several thousand t itanium alloys have been examined on a research and
development basi s . From this extensive activity, more than a hundred
compositions have been produced commercially over the past three decades
of titanium production. Some old alloys have disappeared from the
popular) ty listings and new alloys have been added. In the United
States, the active list of currently available commercial alloys numbers
around 20. A number of important compositions to be considered f or thi s
discussion are listed in Table 8. The Ti-6Al-4V alloy in this ~ isting
has been the most used alloy (about 50 percent ~ over a several-year
per' ad (see Chapter 8) . Unalloyed titanium is the next most popular
material (currently about 30 percent usage). All other alloys therefore
share the balance of usage (about 20 percent ~ .
TABLE 8 Titanium Alloys of Current General Interest Offered by Producers
in the Uni ted States
Nominal Compositions,
Weight Pe rcent
Common
Name
'Type
Unalloyed Ti, 99.2a Commercially Pure Alpha
Ti-O. 15 ~ o O .20 Ed Pd alloy Alpha
Ti-O .3 Mo-O .8 Ni Ti-cod~ 12 Alpha
Ti-SAl-2 . 5Snt A-llO Alpha
Ti-6Al-2 Cb-lTa-O . 8Mo 6-2-1-1 Nea r-alpha
Ti-8Al-lMo-lV 8-1-1 Near-alpha
Ti-8Mn 8 Mn Alpha-beta
Ti-3Al-2 . 5V Half 6-4 (or 3-2 1/2) Alpha-beta
Ti-4. 5Al-5Mo-1. 5Cr Corona 5 Alpha-beta
Ti-5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4~10-4Cr Ti-17 Alpha-beta
Ti-6Al-4~5 6-4 Aipha-be ta
Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn 6-6-2 Alpha-be ta
Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2MoC 6-2-4-2 Alpha-beta
Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo 6-2-4-6 Alpha-beta
Ti-7Al-4Mo 7-4 Al pha-heta
Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr 38-6-44 (Beta c) Beta
Ti-3Al-13V-llCr 13-11-3 ~ or Beta I ~Beta
Ti-3Al-lOV-2Fe 10-2-3 Beta
Ti-3Al-15V-3Cr-3Sn 15-3-3 (or 15-3 ~Beta
Ti-4 . 5Sn-6Zr-ll . SMo Beta III Beta
a Several grades of CP Ti are produced that dif f er in impure ty level .
b High-puri ty grades of these alloys are available and are designated
wi th the suf f ix ELI, meaning extra low interstitials .
c A silicon-containing grade also is available.
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Emerging Alloys
Titanium alloys are classified as alpha, beta, or mixed alpha-beta
depending on the metallurgical stability of their crystal phases at room
temperature. Unalloyed grades and the Ti-5Al-2.5Sn alloy are of the
alpha type . This type cannot be heat-treated to increase strength but i s
noted f or its excellent weldability. In addition to Ti-6A1-4V, the
Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo, Ti-6A1-6V-2Sn, Ti-4. SA1 -SMo-1. 5Cr,
Ti-5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Mo-5Cr, and Ti-8A1-lMo-lV alloys are alpha-beta
compositions. The Ti-lSV-3Cr-3Sn-3Al, Ti-13V-llCr-3A1 and
Ti-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr alloys are representative of the beta alloy
category. Figure 10 is a schematic representation of the relationships
among alloy chemistry, microstructure, and alloy characteristics arranged
according to the a~loy-type classification scheme.
Several compositions are of particular interest because they are
considered to be newly emerging materials that are expected to play
important roles in the future application of titanium. These are:
1. Ti-O.3Mo-0.8Ni,
2. Ti-4.5Al-5Mo-1.5Cr,
3. Ti-5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Mo-4Cr,
4. Ti-3Al-lOV-2Fe, and
5. Ti-3Al-15V-3Cr-3Sn.
The Ti-0.3Mo-0.8Ni alloy is expected to be used in industrial
applications for corrosion resistance. The crevice-corrosion resistance
of this material is much better than that of unalloyed titanium and it is
almost as good as that of Ti-0.2Pd alloy, but the material is not as
expensive.
The Ti-4.5Al-SMo-1.5Cr alloy was developed for its high fracture
toughness at moderately high strength levels. This material also is
hardenable by heat treatment to greater thicknesses than other commonly
available alpha-beta alloys. Thus, it is expected that this material
will be used in increasing quantities in forging applications where high
strength in thick sections is a requirement.
The Ti-5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Mo-4Cr alloy was developed by General Electric's
Gas Turbine Engine Division engineers and is being promoted for use in
engine compressor discs because of its excellent combination of
propert ie s . This too is an alpha-beta type alloy with high toughnes s,
good depth of hardenability, and improved strength at elevated
temperatures .
The Ti-3Al-lOV-2Fe alloy i s a nea ~ beta type alloy t hat i s easier to
f orge at lower temperatures than, for example , the Ti-6A1-4V alloy, and
it can be hardened deeper to higher strength level s. This material is a
prime candidate for the isothermal forging process. It has good
toughness and ductility over a wide range of strengths and currently is
being used in a number of applications in new aircraf t under development .
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Alph~Stabilizing
Elements
For example:
Aluminum
Oxygen
Nitrogen
70
Eleta~sabilizing
Elements
for example:
Molybdenum
Iron
Vanadium
Chromium
Manganese
Increasing Quantities of Alpha Stabilizers Promote Alpha Phase
~ncreasing Quantitics of Bem Stabiliz~s Promote Bem Phase
l
Alpha Mi ed Near
Stru ur Alpaha Alpha-8e B a S u ur
| | (some beta) | Structure | (some alpha) | |
Unalloyed T;- Ti- Ti- Ti- Ti- Ti- Ti- T;- Ti- Ti- Ti
Ti 5AI- 5A1 8Al- 6AI- 6AI- 6AI- 6AI- 8Mn 8Mo 11 .5Mo- 1 3V
2.5Sn 6Sn- 1 Mo- 25n 4V 6V 25;n- 8V- 6Zr- 1 1 Cr
2Zr 1V 4Zr 2Sn 4Zr- 2Fe 4.5Sn 3AI
lMo- 2Nto 6Mo 3AI
0.2si
H;gher density
Increasing heat tr~atment response-
Higher stort-time strength
-Highet creep strengtt
Incrcasing snain rate xnsitivity _
~--- Improved weldabili~'r
e ~ ~_. ~ ~._
·~ - _.~_ ·~_' ~w_~e-~
Figure iO Sc~hematic relatianships: titaniun alloying effec s on
structure and selected ~1tcy charac~ristics.
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The Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3A1 ( 15-3 alloy) is a beta alloy that was
developed for ease of strip producibility and cold fabr~cability. It Is
f oreseen that hand-mill sheet may be largely replaced by continuously
rolled strip because strip is potentially a less expensive product. In
addition, secondary forming operations might be accomplished at room
temperature with the 15-3 alloy, and this would lead to still additional
cost savings in fabricating parts. In its strip-rolled and formed
condition, this material can be heat-treated to a wide range of strength
level s .
In addition to these titanium compositions, a special class of alloys
known collectively as titanium aluminides is under development. The
interest in the aluminides stems from their excellent high-temperature
streng ths, which are comparable to those of nickel-base superalloys but
the aluminides have lower density. Problems with developmental
compositions under study have been their poor hot fabricability and low
ductility at ambient temperatures. There are two subclasses of titanium
aluminizes: those with a Ti3A1 base and those with a Ti-A1 base.
Currently, the former shows more promise than the latter. Both types
noted f or higher modulus values than conventional titanium alloys and
their oxidation re si stance is generally good although coatings may be
required for gas turbine applications. Compositions and processing
methods f or optimizing parts production and properties are under
development .
The Future of TO tanium Alloying
There appears to be an adequate family of titanium alloys to handle all
cur rent applications . The mainstay alloy will remain Ti-6Al-4V for the
near future. The possibilities are great for the extensive use
emerging beta alloys T~-lOV-2Fe-3A1 and Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3A1
materials promise an economy in production and application _ _
with other currently available compositions for specific uses.
Of the
since these
not achievable
After further development, it is expected that the optimized
compositions from the family of titanium aluminides currently being
explored will find relatively small use, perhaps up to a million lbs of
product annually, in high-pressure compressor and lower-pressure turbine
stages of gas turbine engines. Demonstration of the need for the special
attributes of the aluminide type alloy might hasten development.
Little need is seen for intensive alloy development because of
complications that accrue in scrap recycling due to a proliferation of
grades to be identified, sorted, and subsequently factored into the plans
for recycling the scrap. In this respect, a small but versatile family
of titanium alloys contributes to a healthy industry.
On the other hand, the matter of improved use of scrap titanium might
be addressed by an alloy development program. Such a program was
conducted by titanium specialists in the Soviet Union who developed an
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entire line of alloys derived from various sources of titanium scrap
(Gurevich et al. 1973~. Demonstration of pref erred alloy types and
specific compositions that could be generated from various scrap is
desirable.
The growing importance of precision-cast and of powder-metallurgy-
molded titanium shapes may well prompt the development of alloys that
possess special combinations of properties but that are not feasible
using conventional ingot metallurgy.
Mill Processing
Ingots of titanium and titanium alloys are fabricated in
high-temperature, metal-working operations to produce mill products.
Considerable technology is involved in simultaneously producing the
desired mill product shape and dimensions and imparting the preferred
metallurgical crystal structure so as to obtain optimum properties.
Control of temperature, time at temperature, degree of def ormat ion, and
cooling rate are the most important variables that the mills can ad just
to achieve the preferred structure and properties in end items. The
contamination of the work piece during fabrication is to be minimized
during the operations and to be eliminated by conditioning the work piece
after fabrication.
Typical Current Practice
The common mill product fabrication sequence starts with the
break-down forging of an ingot to a bloom. Break-down forging i s
accomplished at high temperatures (e.g., 1150°C) and the finished billet
commonly is in the form of either circular section (e.g., rounds for
billet, bar, and extrusions) or rectangular section (e.g., slabs for flat
rolling) products. Octagonal- and round-cornered-square-section billets
also are produced. Billets may be used directly by the forge shops to
make forged shapes. The initial forging operation to produce billet
shapes commonly is followed by a surf ace conditioning operas ion
(grinding) to remove surface contamination, laps, tears, and cracks
re suiting f ram def ormation abnormalities . Considerable loss of metal
occurs because of the necessity to condition billets.
Conditioned round billets from the initial forging operation also may
be fabricated in rotary forging machines (e. g., in GEM machines ~ or in
rolling mills to produce small-section-size billets and bars. Bars and
coils of rod may be conditioned to remove contamination and used in thi s
form or they may be sent to wire producers for further fabrication. Some
billet s are cut to precise shaped blanks as precursor feed to extrusion
pre sses . As might be expected, a wide variety of extruded shapes and
seamless tubing can be produced from round-sect' on extrusion billet.
* Gesellschaf t fur Maschinenbau-und-fertigungstechnik.
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Slabs from the initial forging operation usually are rolled after
conditioning to make plate, sheet, strip, and some foil. Plate rolling
commonly is accomplished on a toll basis at one of the steel mills.
Ro lied plates may be returned to the primary titanium producer f or
flattening, surface conditioning, and shape cutting operations . Plates
for further conversion to sheet may be conditioned, cut to unit lengths,
stacked (four or more), and enclosed in a steel envelope. These packs
are then pack-rolled to produce the so-called hand-mill shee t product .
Sheets may be surface-ground and pickled to achieve f inal dimensions and
surface condition.
Slabs for conversion to strip may be rolled to a hot-band coil,
treated at this stage to enhance their metallurgical characteristics
(e. g., by annealing) and surface condition (e.g., by pickling), and
subsequently re-ro~led to strip dimensions. The final stages of
stri~rolling may be cold-rolling operations. Annealing and surface
condition) ng operations commonly are used as the f inal steps in producing
strip. In a notable advance, one U.S. producer successfully operates a
continuous, inert-gas-annealing strip furnace.
Strip may be used directly as flat-rolled product or as precursor
material for foil. The most important use of strip currently is for the
production of rolled and welded tubing. Coils of strip are slit to the
proper width and then rolled up and seam-welded in continuously operating
tube lines. Much more rolled and welded tubing (in unalloyed titanium
grades) is used than seamless tubing produced by extrusion.
The Future of Mill Processing
Fabrication schedules have been worked out that result in optimized
characteristics for each titanium material and, in many cases, there are
several schedules that can be followed to produce different
characteristics in a given material. For example, the Ti-6Al-4V alloy
may be fabricated using either an alpha-beta or a beta schedule.
Further, different mills might use slightly different schedules to
produce a product with very similar characteristics.
There is considerable flexibility in the matter of achieving
preferred material characteristics via fabrication scheduling. At the
same time, this has led to the existence of a variety of microstructures
in products for the same or similar applications. Some observers of the
industry believe that primary fabrication schedules have yet to be
optimized to produce optimum properties for titanium alloys and to
produce consistency or uniformity in material characteristics. Some
evolutionary developments in this area that can be foreseen involve the
following:
1. Most mill products are produced with relatively coarse
microstructure and indefinite amounts of residual cold work.
The term "coarse microstructure" is used with respect to the
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is to ache eve metallurgical stabilization of the acicular
structure. Typical heat treatment exposures for beta annealing are
1/2 hour at 1040 °C terminated by either water quenching or air
cooling to room temperature, followed by reheating from 700° to
730°F, holding for 2 hours, and terminating by air cooling.
Strengthening Heat Treatments
Heat-treatable titanium alloys, such as the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, can be heat
treated to a high-strength condition in a two-stage thermal exposure
consisting of a solution heat treatment and an aging heat treatment:
1. Solution heat treatments. Solution heat treatments are designed to
develop a preferred microstructure that may also be amenable to age
hardening during a subsequent heat treatment. The effectiveness of
certain solution heat treatments may be dependent upon the exposure
temperature and the cooling rate. Quick cooling is mandatory and a
minimum quench delay time and rapid cooling rates are preferred.
Although titanium materials are not ordinarily used in the
solution-treated condition, material in this condition may be
characterized by having relatively low strength and high ductility.
2. A ins heat treae~encs. The second stage of the treatment is imposed
on the solution heat treated material. Aging treatments in the 370°
to 590°C temperature range may be used although temperatures in the
480° to 610°C range are the most common. Exposure is commonly for 2
to 8 hours and is terminated by air cooling. The solution-treated
material is metallurgically modified during aging treatments by
precipitation and transf ormation reactions. Aged materials can have
a very high strength in combination witch a moderately low bu~ usable
ductility .
3. Overaging heat treatments. Treatments of this kind may be
superimposed on solution-heat-treated material or on
solution-treated-plus-aged material. Overaging treatments merely
cause the further progression of the metallurgical reactions that
occur during aging. The net result is that peak hardness is
surpassed leading to a sof teeing of the material and increased
ductility as compared to the aged condit' on. Thermal exposures in
the 590° to 650°C range, usually for about 4 hours, can be used for
averaging. The treatments are terminated by air cooling.
The Future of Heat Treating
The heat-treatment response of titanium alloys is relatively modest and
no breakthroughs are expected. However, approaches for product improvement
through heat-treatment techniques are promising.
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The mill-annealed heat treatment, which is used extensively, is a form of
stress-relieving treatment that often leaves a considerable amount of
internal strain In the material. A better final heat treatment involves
annealing at temperatures that produce low temperature equilibration; this
stabilizes the alloy against further transformation during elevated
temperature service. Such annealing treatments also accomplish stress
relief. Stress-relieving treatments below recrystallization temperatures are
useful in reducing internal stresses from welding, machining, or forming
operations.
The most essential prerequisite to good properties in the
solution-treated-and-aged condition is an initial fine grain size produced by
proper mill processing to the semifinished form. In this condition, good
combinations of properties are obtained after aging heat treatments that
result in the precipitation of fine alpha and fine alpha-sub-two (Ti3Al)
phases. Little hope is seen of utilizing the coherent omega phase as a
strengthening mechanism. Martensitic transformation does not give a strongly
hardened transition phase as it does with steels; thus, there is little hope
in exploiting the martensitic reaction for property improvement. However,
beta quenching of alpha-beta alloys to form martensite is extremely useful as
a grain refining technique. The martens~tic structures thus produced can be
annealed to form lamellar structures or reworked in the alpha-beta f ield and
recrystallized by heat treatment to form equiaxed-lamellar structures.
Specifications for Titanium-Base Ingots, Mill Products,
and Alloying Additions
Ingot
No public specifications are issued exclusively for the control of
titanium ingots of either unalloyed or alloy grades. However, AMS 2380
includes the technical requirements for the preparation of ingots.
Ingots for quality products are manufactured in two widely recognized
quality categories--standard quality and premium quality. Although these
quality measures generally apply to the mill product resulting from ingot
fabrication, (e.g., bloom, billet, bar, plate, and sheet), the ingot starting
material must, of course, have an equivalent quality. Subcategories of the
ingot and mill product quality categories are available. For example, the
subcategories relating to the double- or triple-melting of ingots within
either the standard- or premium-quality categories are offered. As shown by
the inf ormation in AMS 2380, premium-quality, double- and
triple-vacuum-melted materials are called Grades 1 and 2, respectively. The
same classif ication holds for double- and triple-melted ingots of standard
quality. Nonpublic, company-originated purchasing specifications for ingots
are issued by users for the control of composition and quality in cases where
the public specif ication is not applicable.
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Unalloyed and Alloyed Mill Products
Three sets of public specifications cover the majority of unalloyed
titanium and titanium alloy mill products used in the United States. Several
government agencies have prepared and are responsible for the military set
(MIL-specifications), whereas nongovernment technical societies issue and
maintain the other sets. The ASTM issues one and the SAE issues the other,
i.e., the Aerospace Material Specifications (AMS). Tables 9 through 13 list
the typical coverage of alloys and mill products afforded by the SAE, ASTM,
and military specifications.
Scrap
No public specifications cover scrap titanium. The forms of commercial
scrap that generally are recycled into titanium products through the ingot
melting cycle are classified as bulk weldables (a second term is heavy bulk),
light solids (e.g. , clippings from sheet), and chips and turnings. The above
f arms of "prompt" scrap constitute the bulk of the titanium scrap trade that
is handled by intermediate companies, the scrap dealers. They obtain this
manufacturing scrap from users, segregate it by impuri ty and alloy content,
and sell it to titanium ingot melters and also to the aluminum and steel
industries. Only a smell amount of "obsolete" titanium scrap (e.g., worn-out
engine parts) is recycled. Some of the purchasers of titanium scrap have
issued private specifications that cover the quality of the products of their
transactions. Other users of scrap describe the acceptable quality and
limitations through purchasing agreements.
A large amount of scrap that is reverted to the titanium industry through
the melting cycle is "home" scrap generated by the melters and mill product
produc ers . Home scrap for revert is not handled by brokers . There is an
increasing trend f or the large users of titanic to sell their scrap directly
back to melters instead of to brokers. Still another source of scrap
titanium i s f ram f oreign users. This imported scrap usually passes through
brokers for eventual use by titanium melters, if proper identification can be
provided, or by other industries. A schematic scrap flow diagram is
presented as Figure 11.
Alloying Addition
No public specifications cover the master alloy additions used In the
preparation of titanium alloys. Each titanium company has purchasing
specifications setting limi ts on the quality of master alloy they choose to
buy. These are cited in the purchasing agreements. However, the expertise
and experience of the master alloy suppliers is such that their produc ts
generally exceed the quality requirements as set forth in the purchasing
* Two domestic and one foreign master alloy manufacturers supply the U.S.
ti tanium indust ry .
OCR for page 79
TABLE 9 Aerospace Materials Specifications for Titanium Materials
O EYE. 1l~le
4900F Plate, sheet and strip-annealed-55,000 psi yield (unalloyed Ti)
4901H Sheet, strip and plate-annealed-70,000 psi yield (unalloyed Ti)
4902C Plate' sheet and strip-annealed-40~000 psi yield (unalloyed Ti)
4905 Plate, damage tolerant grade, 6A1-4V, beta annealed
4906 Sheet and strip-6Al-4V, continuously rolled, annealed
4907C Plate, sheet, and strip-6Al-4V, extra low interstitial, annealed
4908C Sheet and strip-8Mn, annealed ~110,000 psi yield
4909C Plate, sheet, and strip-5Al-2.5Sn, extra low interstitial, annealed
4910G Plate, sheet, and str' p--5Al-2.5Sn, annealed
4911D Plate, sheet, and strip--6Al-4V, annealed
4 912A Shee t and stri p--4Al-3Mo-lV solution heat-treated
4913A Sheet and strip--4Al-3Mo-lV sol. and prec. treated
4915E Plate, sheet and strip--8Al-lMo-lV, single annealed
4916D Plate, sheet and strip--8Al-lMo-lV, duplex annealed
4917C Plate, sheet and strip--13.5V-llCr-3Al, solut~on-treated
4918E Plate, sheet and strip--6Al-6V-2Sn, annealed
4919 Sheet, strip, and plate, 6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, annealed
4921E Bars, forgings, and rings--annealed--70,000 psi yield (unalloyed Ti)
4924C Bars, forgings, and rings, 5Al-2.5Sn, extra low interstitial
annealed, 90,000 psi yield
4926F Bars and rings--5A1 2. 5Sn, annealed--llO ,000 ps~ y'eld
492 8H Bars and forgings--6A1 4V, annealed--120, 000 psi yield
4930A Bars, forgings, and rings--6A1 4V, extra low interstitial, annealed
4933 Extrusions and flash-welded rings, 8Al-lMo-lV, solution heat-treated
and stabilized
4934A Extrusions and flash-welded rings, 6A1-4V, solution heat-treated and
aged
4 935D Ex trusions--6Al-4V annealed
493 6A Extrusions--6Al-6V-2Sn
4 941B Tu bing , welded-annealed--4 0 , 000 psi yield (unalloyed Ti)
4942B Tubing, seamless-annealed-40,000 ps! yield (unalloyed Ti)
4943A Tubing, seamless-annealed, 3A1-2.5V annealed
4944B Tubing, seamless, hydraulic, 3A1-2.5V, cold worked and stress relieved
4951D Wire, welding (unalloyed Ti)
4953A Wire, welding--5Al-2.5Sn, annealed
4954C Wire, welding--6Al-4V
4955A Wire, welding, 8Al-lMo-lV
4956A Wire, welding--6Al-4V, extra low interstitial, environment controlled
496 5D Bars ~ forgings ~ and rings--6Al-4V ~ sol e & precip. heat-treated
4966 Forgings--5Al-2 .5Sn, annealed--l1O,OOO psi yield
4967E Bars and forgings--6Al-4V, annealed, heat treatable
4970D Bars and forg~ngs, 7Al-4Mo, sol. & precip. treated
4971B Bars, forgings, and rings--6Al-6V-2Sn, annea~ ed, heat treatable
OCR for page 80
TABLE 9 (continued)
AMS No.
80
4972B Bars and rings--8Al-lMo-lV, solution treated and stabilized
497 3B Forgings--8Al-lMo-lV, solution treated and stabilized
4974 Bars and forgings--llSn-5.0Zr-2.3Al-l.OMo-0.21Si, sol. ~ precip.
treated
4 975B Bars and rings--6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, sol. & precip. heat treated
4976A Forgings~6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, sol. & precip. heat-treated
4977B Bars and wire--11. 5Mo-6.0Zr-4.5Sn, solution heat-treated
4978A Bars, forgings and rings--6Al-6V-2Sn, annealed 140,000 yield
4979A Bars, forgings and rings--6Al-6V-2Sn, sol. & precip. heat-treated
4980B Bars and wire--lle5Mo-6Zr-4e5Sn, 137 5F solution heat-treated
4981A Bars and forgings--6A1-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo, sol. & precip. heat-treated
4982 Bars, 45Cb, annealed
4855 Castings, investment, 6A1-4V, annealed
49 91 Castings, investment, 6A1-4V, annealed
4995 Bi llets and Preforms, 5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Cr-4Mo-O .1~0) premium quality
powder product
4 996 Billets and preforms, 6A1-4V, premium quality, powder product
4997 Powder, 5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Cr-4Mo-O.l(O), premium quality
4 998 Po wafer, 6A1-4V ~ premium quality
Titanium and Titanium Alloys Military Handbook, MIL-HD8K-697A,
June 1, 1974.
OCR for page 81
81
TA_LE 10 AMS Materials and Product Form Correlation
Plate Sheet
Sttlp Tubing Extrusions
Composition, Weight Percent
Pure Ti, ._9 9 . 5 , ann. 40 ks i YS
Pure Ti, ._99.5 , ann. 40 ksi YS
Pure Ti ,~99.2, ann. 55 ksi YS
Pure Ti, ~99.0, ann. 70 ksi YS
Ti 0.15 to 0.20 Pd
li-SAl-2.5Sn, ann. 110 ksi YS
Ti-SAl-2.5Sn, £LI, ann. 90 ksi
Ti-(1 to 2)Ni
li-2Cu
Ti-2.25Al-llSn-SZr-lMo-0.2Si, STA
Ti-SAl-6Sn-2Zr-lMo-0.25Si
Ti-6Al-2Sn-l. SZr-lMo-0.35Bi-O. lSi
li-6Al-2 Cb-lla-0.8Mo
Ti-8Al-lMo-lV, single ann.
Ti-8Al-lMo-IV, duplex ann.
Ti-8Al-lMo-lV, sol. bested
~ stabilized
li-8Mn, ann. 110 ket YS
Ii-3Al-2.5 V, ann.
, i-4Al-3.Io-IV, sol. treated
Ti -4Al-3MO- IV, STA
Ti-5Al-2Sn-2Zr-4Mo-4Cr
Ti-6Al-4V, ann. 120 ksi YS
Ti-6Al-4\T, cont . rolled, ann.
Ti-6Al-6V, ann. heat treatable
Ti-6Al-4Y, SIA
li-6Al-4V, ELI, ann.
Ti-6Al-69-2Sn, ann. 140 ksl YS
Ti-6Al-6\'-2Sn, ann. heat treat.
Ti-6Al-67-2Sn, STA
Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, STA
Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo, STA
Ti-6Al-2Sn-2Zr-2Mo-2Cr-0.2S1
Ii- 7 Al-4Ffo, STA
Ti -1A}-8V-5Fe
Ti-2Al-1 lV-2Sn-ll Zr
T1-3Al-8V-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr
Ti-ll. SMo-6Zr-6Sn, sol. treated
li-ll. SMo-6Zr-4.5Sn, }37S°F
sol. treated
Ti-8Mo-8V-2Fe-3A1
T~-l';~-llr:r-3A1, s~1. t-~t-~4
Ti-SAl-5Sn-5Zr (NC)
-i-2Cr-~Fe-~Ho (~?r)
Ti-4Al-4Mn ( NC)
Ti-3Al-SCr ( NC )
Ti-5.4Al-1.4Cr-1.3Fe-1.25Mo,
Forging ~Bars Rlnge ~re
4951C(W)
__
__
__
49218
__
4966D
YS 4924B
__
__
4974
__
__
__
__
__
4973A 4972A
4928G
__
4967D
4965B
4930A
4978A
4971A
4979
4975B
4981
__
4970C
__
__
__
__ 4977A
__ 496UA
__ __
_ __
4968A 6968A
4923A 4923A
4925B 4925B
4927 4927
( NC) 4969 4929
__
__ _
__
4921B 6921B
__ __
49261) 4926D 4953(W)
4924B 4924B
__
__
4974
__
__
__
__
__
4902B 4902B
__ __
4900D 49000
4901E 4901E
__ __
4910F 4910F
4909B 4909B
4955(W) 4915B 4915B
-- 4916B 4916B
4954B(W) 4911C
__ __
__ __
__ __
4956(W) 4907B
691RC
__
__
__
__
__
4977A
4980A
__
4902B 4941 (Wd )
__ 4942(S)
4900D
4901E
__
4910F
4909B
__
__
__
__
__
__
49158
49168
4908B 4908B
~~ 4912A
4913A 4913A
__ __
4911B 4911B
4906 4906
__ __
__ __
4907 B 4907 B
4918C 4918C
__
__ __
__ __
L ~ 1 7 R L ~ 1 7 R
__
__
6943 ( S )
4912A
Note: Ann - annealed; YS - yield strength; STA - solution ant precipitation heat treated (~.e., aged); Sol - solution
W - welded; S - neamles s ; NC ~ not current .
OCR for page 82
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OCR for page 83
83
TABLE 12 ASTM Specif ications for Titanium and Titanium Alloys .
ASTM No . Specif ication Ti tie
B348-7 8
B381-78
B2 65-7 9
1333 7-78
B338-78
B363-78
B36 7-7 8
F6 7-7 7
Titanium
Titanium
Titanium
Seamless
Seamless
and Titanium Alloy Bars and Billets
and Titanium Alloy Forgings
and Titanium Alloy Strip, Sheet and Plate
and Welded Titanium Pipe
and Welded Titanium and Titanium Alloy Tubes for
Condensers and Heat Exchanger s
Seamless and Welded Unalloyed Titanium Welding Fittings
Titanium and Titanium Alloy Castings
Titanium for Surgical Implants
TABLE 13 Military Specif ications for Titanium and Titanium Alloys
Specif ication No. Title
MIL-R-81588A
MIL-T-134051)
MIL-T-904 7G
MII~-F-9 3142A
MIL-T-4 6038B
MI L-T-81556
MIL-T-9046H
MI L-T-4 603 SA
MI L-T-4 607 7A
MIL-H-81200A
MIL-W-6858D
Rods and wire, titanium and titanium alloys
Titanium powder
Titanium and titanium alloy bars and forging stock
Forging, titanium alloys, premium quality
Titanium alloy, wrought, rods, bars and billets
(for critical applications)
Titanium and titanium alloys, bars, rods, and
special shaped sections, extruded
Titanium and titanium alloy, sheet, strip and
plate
Titanium alloy, high strength, wrought, (for
critical applications)
Titanium alloy armor plate, weldable
Heat treatment of titanium and titanium alloys
Welding, resistance: aluminum, magnesium,
nonhardening steels or alloys, nickel alloys,
heat resisting alloys and titanium alloys; spot
and seam
OCR for page 84
84
,
1
. ~
, ~_ _ . _
~I~? ~-_ __ ~ me__ _ _. ~
; T ~ ~
- ~D (~ `.~ t~Ei,
. 1 ~ e_ ~
i_- - ~" Of DILL "~ "D ~ - ~ `~.
~ tM ____ev~l ____ ~
1
~ 1 ~
i#- i: ~
_ 1
1
I
il
1 1
1
1 ~
I t
1
1
I r
1 1
~.
If ta~lY~!
l Ia~, I
1 l~, 1
Figure 11 Titanium scrap f low diagram.
1~F
l-° 1
1 ~ 1
JO
Source: Mineral Facts and Problems, 1975, Bureau of Mines, U.S .
Department of the Interior.
specifications. The titanium company specif ications include such things
as the master alloy composition (e.g., 60A1-40V, 50A1-50V, 15A1-85V,
30Al-70Mo, 15Al-85Mo, and lOAl-40Cr-50V), impurity limitations, particle
size range limits, and preferred packaging and marking instructions. The
master alloy manufacturing facilities and operations usually are approved
by end users of titanium products (e.g., the engine manufacturers).
OCR for page 85
85
In addition to using master alloys to prepare titanium alloys,
elemental additions and recycled titanium scrap (alloy) materials are
used to achieve a desired titanium alloy composition. For example,
Ti-6Al-4V scrap might be used to prepare Ti-3Al-2.5V alloy by dilution
with appropriate amounts of unapt toyed titanium scrap or sponge. Also, in
composing a charge for preparing a Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo alloy, the
30Al-70Mo master alloy might be mixed with elemental additions of tin.
z irconium, and make-up aluminum, as well as the sponge
achieve the pref erred alloy content. Elements such as
and chromium commonly are
titanium base, to
tin, zirconium,
~ , _ _ added to other alloys. The elemental materials
may be purchased to appropriate public specifications (e.g., ASTM
B-339-78 that covers tin).
Miscellaneous Specifications
In addition to the material speclficat~ons issued specifically for
titanium products, other specs fications cover specific processes uniquely
applicable to titanium alloys. For example, AMS 2631 covers the
ultrasonic testing of titanium alloys, AMS 2642 and 2643 relate to the
etching of titanium alloys, and AMS 2488 and 2775 deal with specific
surface treatments for titanium.
REFERENCES
Gurevich, S. M., V. E. Blashchuk and L. M. Onoprienko, Metal Science and
Heat Treatment, Vol. 15, Nos. 9-10, 1973. (Metallovedeniye i
Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, Moscow) .
U. S. Bureau of Mines. 1976. Mineral Facts and Problems. 1975 edition,
U. S . Government Printing Of f ice, Washington, D .C .
OCR for page 86
Representative terms from entire chapter:
titanium alloys